Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation - South Dakota
American Indians Mission Trip
August 1, 2010 to August 6, 2010
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Age Group: Senior high school students
Application Deadline: 6/1/2010
Status:
Past application deadline
Cost (US$): $395 per participant
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Frequently Asked Questions
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| Ministry Detail |
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Project Overview:
This mission to American Indians is very different from others offered by AIM. The culture of the Dakota Sioux of Sisseton has been very westernized. There has been a Christian influence in the area since the 1800s. The Dakota Sioux seldom practice their traditional religion.
Your team will be ministering alongside Pastor Jerome Renville and his wife, Karen, of Eagle’s Wing Baptist Church in Sisseton. The emphasis throughout the week will be sharing Christ's unconditional love.
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| Trip Requirements |
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Newcomers to the world of missions can grow and make a difference among the Dakota Sioux. But proven, spiritual maturity and prior field experience in missions away from home really helps. So, bring some veterans to help newcomers get to the next level.
You are going to be living among the people of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation, so you may share the discomfort they sometimes experience. The power may fail, leaving you for a time without air-conditioning. The plumbing may fail, leaving you without showers for a day or two. Your ministry may be outside in a hot, dusty environment.
Relational ministry here can be challenging. People are often resistant to your message of hope. You may struggle to connect with people you are hoping to find. Please come determined to break through the emotional walls you will encounter. And you’ll be tired – relationship building and sharing Christ often carries into late-night hours.
You’ll need to exercise initiative to reach the lost and disciple those who struggle with their faith. Participants with developed social skills and the ability to engage people in conversation, sometimes at deeper, spiritual levels, will do well.
This is very much a cross-cultural experience, and it will stretch you. Spiritual warfare is waged regularly in Indian Country. Maintain plenty of prayer cover and let the Lord run the mission.
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| Food & Lodging |
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We will sleep on the floor of the sanctuary and Sunday school rooms of Eagle’s Wing Baptist Church. Please bring single-sized air mattresses, bedding, and towels.
Food is prepared on site by a local cook.
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| Dress Code & What to Bring
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Dress Code:
We do require all trip participants, leaders, and staff to adhere to a dress code on each of our EDGE mission projects. We do this to show respect for God, respect for ourselves, and respect for others. Please help us achieve this goal by teaching your group that our dress code isn’t because we’re extremists, but because we love God, we wish to honor His creation, and we don’t wish to cause others to stumble. You can find specific guidelines in your M101 manual or by contacting your EDGE representative.
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| Travel Information |
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Airport & Transportation:
Groups may drive to Sisseton or fly to Fargo, ND, 85 miles north. Or, for much cheaper airfare, fly to Minneapolis 220 miles east. Vans are available to rent at either airport, but must be reserved well in advance. We suggest getting price comparisons on airfare and van rentals.
Groups must provide their own ground transportation. Extensive travel is common on the rez, so at least two vans will better facilitate travel for activities with local kids.
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Shots & Vaccinations:
An updated Tetanus shot is Strongly Recommended for ALL projects.
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Suggested Travel Agency:
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Angie Lepley, CTC
Tangerine Travel, Ltd.
16017 Juanita Woodinville Way NE, #201
Bothell, WA 98011
Phone (800) 678-8202
Direct (425) 354-6910
Email Angie@tangerinetravel.com
www.tangerinetravel.com
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Suggested Travel Insurance:
We highly recommend all program participants have health insurance coverage for international trips. It is important to know that most regular health insurance plans do not cover you overseas. Health coverage is not a requirement for domestic trips, but still recommended.
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| Location Information
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Location Description:
Nestled among the rolling hills of northeastern South Dakota lies the Sisseton-Wahpeton (Lake Traverse) Reservation. It is named after the two tribes of Dakota Sioux who call this 106,153-acre reservation home.
Weather:
Summer highs average in the mid 80s; lows in the upper 50s. This area gets most of its rainfall in the summer months.
Area Attractions:
The Nicollete Tower and Interpretative Center offers an excellent view of the characteristic prairie hills of this tri-state area.
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| People, Culture and Religion
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The Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux lived along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border where they hunted, fished, and gathered for subsistence. As white settlers moved into the area, the government imposed a series of treaties on the Dakota-speaking Indians living there.
The Sisseton accepted the terms of the 1851 Traverse des Sioux Treaty, relegating them to a small area. In 1862, they fled to Canada to escape the Minnesota Sioux War. They returned and accepted the terms of a treaty signed at Enemy Swim Lake in 1863. This treaty forced the Sisseton to split between the Lake Traverse and Devil’s Lake Reservations, both outside of Minnesota. The move was devastating to the Sisseton and many starved.
The Sisseton-Wahpeton seek to preserve their native culture despite 500 years of attempts to absorb, suppress, or eradicate it. The Dakota language is still widely used.
(airc.org/reservations/laketraverse.html)
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| Government and Economy
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Residents of Sisseton rely heavily on agriculture, livestock marketing, light industry, and health care for its economic growth. Major employers include the casino, tribal government, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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| Statistics
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Population:
10,840 - Sisseton-Wahpeton (Lake Traverse) Reservation
(airc.org/reservations/laketraverse.html) |
Poverty Rate:
22.1% in Roberts County live below the poverty line.
(quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/46/46109.html) |
Literacy Rate:
97% USA
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Average Annual Income:
$25,800 |
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